James Studdard: Jansy, I misplaced your submission about "hottentot" and its
extension in context with the little story you told. Please disabuse me of
the understanding that Hottentot is an offensive term for a member of the
Khoikhoi people and/or their language. The Khoikhois are a member of a
formerly nomadic African people, now principally residing in Namibia with some
in western South Africa, belonging to Khoisan and characterzed by the use of
click consonants. Around 55,000. Possibly, VN, when suggesting in
"Strong Opinions" that Dostoevski (whom I greatly admire)was a "claptrap
journalist and slapdash comedian" he (VN) was simply being hottentottish
[late 17th century, Dutch, probably] toward the great
Russian writer.
JM: I had no idea that Hottentot might
be applied as an offensive term ( late 17th century Dutch, probably, as you
stated) either towards the Khoikhoi people and their language, or anywhere
else. I understood it was part of the word-play which departed from similar
sounding letters to agglutinate them in a single one, as intended by
the person who invented the story about kangaroos and murderers. I'm sorry
for having shown disrespect where there was none intended. Thank you
for the correction.